for all those passionate throes until now, left unsung, about music

Monthly Archives: August 2011

How separate are music and poetry anyway? I have a few poetry items to share with you. First off, my poem about hula hooping has recently been printed on a lovely background. It can be purchased if you’d like, here:

There’s a great poetry series I’m hosting at the Osterhout Free Library. I’ve asked a few of my great poet friends to help me run a series of workshops regarding poetry. Space is limited, so sign up soon! Info is below:

Well, the subject line comes from Mother Love Bone. In my opinion, one of the greatest but sadly, short-lived bands of the early 90s. What I really wanted to talk about was songs that are like friends. You know what I mean. There’s one artist to whom you, while at a stoplight, say, “That’s damn right!” Or “Sing it to me, Paul.” Or, “I understand, Thom Yorke.”

For me, this is usually…Paul Westerberg. Yep. I bet you swore your piggy bank savings I’d say Eddie Vedder. Eddie has healed me, defined my life, etc. But whenever I’m in a funk, or just feel like some raw, good old-fashioned truth-telling, it’s to Mr. Westerberg that I turn. My induction to the Replacements was actually MORE than a decade after I was taken with Paul Westerberg. I fell in love with his solo stuff first, and it is, though I love the Replacements, my favorite.

Whenever he’s in the car next to me, I feel like there’s a friend there, telling me all about his bad day or crazy musings. I know it sounds corny but lately the lyrics have been speaking great volumes to me. Perhaps it is time to join the land of the living more. It always happens like this. I go through phases were all I do is write, work, read for school and sleep. Sometimes I can’t even keep my house clean. I forget what people’s voices sound like. But Paul brought me out of that this week and I actually went to see a good friend who served me a cup of tea. In my “I have to do it all myself” world, that was hella nice. (Thanks, Jenny.) Or maybe it’s when Amy says she’s working on a new work of fiction.

And I think, wow, that’s great. And damn, I miss fiction. But what I need to do more is create the chapbook. It is here where I stumble when I’m “achin’ to be.” Now that I’ve put my poet pants back on (with a lot of help from my creative community) I think, busy as I am, that I should write a poem a week at least. I can do more than that, but I want to let it sit, edit it, and make it good. Keep me honest. And, enjoy some Paul Westerberg on the house. I hear he’s looking for some new friends, too…

And a song, that I LOVE, written and recorded while there was, in fact, a frozen pizza in the oven…on a Friday night…
But this is the live version. Go buy Besterberg, the best of Paul Westerberg to hear the original…

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while now. The following comes from a collaboration of opinions. It’s often come up in conversation, especially when provoked by the hearing of a song that has been played, played to death, buried, dug up, and played again. The following songs are in no way unfavorable, but it is safe to say that they could be shelved for the next decade and not be missed.
The first list is based on songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, mostly classic and pop rock tracks. The following list is comprised of songs I feel were played way too much in the 90s (based on the alternative rock and hard rock genres.)

Without further ado:The older songs that have been played to death

1. Hotel California The Eagles (and responsible for me exclaiming, “GOD! I hate the Eagles!” Really, I don’t, but I don’t care if I NEVER hear this track again.)
2. Little Red Corvette (Prince)* This came from a friend. I’m still down with it.
3. Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Synyrd)
4. White Wedding (Billy Idol)
5. Jack and Diane (John (Cougar) Mellencamp)
6. American Pie (Don McLean)
7. Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
8. Back in Black (AC/DC)
9. Pour Some Sugar on Me (Def Leppard)
10. We Are the Champions (Queen)

That being said, the radio made the aforementioned songs die.

The quick & dirty 90s list I promised:

1. Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing (Aerosmith)
2. Last Kiss, Pearl’s Jam’s version. (Surprised? Don’t be. I liked the original better; sorry, Eddie and friends. Their version is good but it got driven into the ground on the airwaves.)
3. Closing Time (Semisonic)
4. Crash (Dave Matthews Band)
5. Lightning Crashes (Live, and it’s supposed to be pronounced “Live” like “give”.)
6. Crazy (Aerosmith)
7. Semi-Charmed Life (Third Eye Blind, radio edit. The uncut version is better.)
8. Inside Out (Eve 6)
9. Don’t Speak (No Doubt)
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

Most of these artists are respected and adored on my list, but these tracks have been overdone. Often, there is a hidden track, a B-side, or something that never gets heard, that is golden. For example, Pearl Jam’s “Down.” Third Eye Blind’s “Dao of St. Paul,” Nirvana’s “Plateau.”